Thimble grip swivel bar for guitars



Jan. 3, 1950 A, SCHWARTZ 2,493,698

THIMBLE GRIP SWIVEL BAR FOR GUITARS Filed Sept 13, 1946 I N VEN TOR.

.Franalrfl ciz'izwan m m myaa ATTEI RN EYB Patented Jan. 3, 1950 UNITED STATES EATENT OFFICE THIMBLE GRIP SWIVEL BAR FOR GUITARS Francis A. Schwartz, Bradford, Pa.

Application September 13, 1946, Serial No. 696,885

1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to musical instruments, and particularly to improvements in devices for playing the steel guitar.

In the playing of the steel guitar, the instrument is usually placed on the lap of the player and one hand manipulates a metal bar over the strings, which are metal. Considerable skill is required in manipulating the bar, and often the bar is dropped, or thrown due to sweaty hands during playing.

t is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a bar for playing the steel guitar, which bar has a swivelled thimble grip.

A further object is to provide a bar for playing the steel guitar, which bar has a thimble grip which is swivelled and capable of a rocking movement so that all movements of the players hand can be accommodated.

These and other objects are attained by the novel construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and illustrated by'the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a device for playing the steel guitar in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is an end view of the device.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3--3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a side view of the device.

Referring to the drawings, the bar for playing the steel guitar is shown to comprise a bar I made of Monel metal or the like, having one end hollowed at 2 and the other end rounded as shown at 3. The bar I has a recess 4 and in the recess the bar I has a projection 5 with a semi-spherical recess receiving a ball 6 integral with a post I. The projection 5 is externally threaded and receives a threaded collar 8 which fits about the ball 6.

At the upper end of the post I is a bracket or forked member 9 to which is attached a thimble 10 having a plurality of holes H. The thimble is of a size to receive a finger, different sizes of thimbles being furnished for different sizes of fingers. The holes ll provide ventilation for sweaty fingers.

In using the device, the player inserts a finger in the thimble and grasps the bar in the usual manner. The thimble prevents dropping or throwing of the bar, and also provides a better grip on the bar, enabling greater ease in the playing of the instrument.

The device is simple in structure, and can be carried in the pocket as easily as the old type of bars used in playing steel guitars.

The above description is to be considered as illustrative and not limitative of the invention of which modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as denoted by the appended claim.

The invention having been described, what is claimed is:

A device for playing the steel guitar comprising a metal bar hollowed at one end and rounded at the other end, a depression having curved ends in the bar intermediate of its ends, a circular recess formed in the bar centrally of the depression, a projection in said recess centrally thereof having a semi-spherical ball receiving seat therein, a post having a ball at one end adapted to be received in said seat, a collar threadably engaging the projection and loosely engaging the ball for permitting swivelling movement of the post, a forked member on the upper end of the post and a thimble having a plurality of ventilating holes fixed in said forked member.

FRANCIS A. SCHWARTZ.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

